When Jimi Hendrix Experience split up in 1969, Jimi Hendrix did not procrastinate for too long. He played with Billy Cox for a while, and then a drummer Buddy Miles joined them. Only a month later, they formed a band known as Band of Gypsys and the guys were ready to perform. They made their stage debut on December 31st of 1969 and January 1st of 1970 in New York’s Fillmore East where they have played two concerts each day.
Six songs from these concerts were released as the album Band of Gypsys, which ended up in top 10 on Billboard Album Chart. Band of Gypsys have become a part of history. Machine Gun The Fillmore East Firs Show 12\31\69 brings us the band’s first live act ever, and eleven songs document Hendrix’s tendency to leave Experience past behind.
We didn’t know what to expect from the audience, and the audience did not know what to expect from us. Still, from the first tone we played, they were full of admiration and respect. In front of them was Jimi Hendrix, a drummer who played with Electric Flag and Wilson Picket, and I was just a new guy, wrote Cox in the book supporting the album.
Blues was the genre that was always easily related to Hendrix, but with Band of Gypsys, he started exploring new territories. The new band delivered new material, new funky sound, and some sections sang by Miles. It should not come as surprise that most of the songs on this album sound much better in other, more polished versions, but it is good to hear the raw demos.
The audience was not familiar with most of the played songs. The band improvised on the stage, following the feeling. Even Hendrix said that there is no final version of some songs, so that he will just try them on for the first time. He wasn’t sure about the song titles either, and several choruses were made up in front of the live audience.
This is exactly what demonstrates the skill and talent of Jimi Hendrix. While it all sounds a bit clumsy at the beginning, especially when compared to standards, seventy minutes later, we are listening to the real band who sounds like they have been performing for many years.
The real rhetorical question is – in which direction would Hendrix grow If he did not pass away at the end of 1970. If I can select only one song from this collection, it would certainly be Machine Gun – an example of endless possibilities of the electric guitar when played by a genius.
